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With the help of two grants worth almost $135,000 from NMYCCO, EcoServants is ready to 30 hire young people,17 to 25 years old, who are looking to serve Lincoln County while earning an income.

A scholarship for college or a certification program is an added incentive for students that sign on with EcoServants.

According to it's website EcoServants.org, the group "works in cooperation with AmeriCorps members to be a part of a solution for our community and also provide crucial training, skills and certificates to help with future adventures that the AmeriCorps member desire."

EcoServants founder Stephen Carter said the non-profit is looking ahead to May when the summer crew can begin work on a new 2.2-mile trail in the Cedar Creek area. Workers also will work on Bureau of Land Management land, as well as the management of weeds throughout the area.

In addition, EcoServants also received a grant for $116,000 to hire 20 employees to work in Otero County.

Carter said he is looking forward to combining forces with both the Lincoln County and Otero County crews this summer.

“One of the neat things about this program is, through YCC, we’re doing something different and actually there will be times when all the kids can work together in Cloudcroft or Ruidoso," Carter said. "So all 50 of them will be working together at times.”

The group works in cooperation with the Mescalero Apache Tribe and Sacramento Forest Service. Jobs include building trails, clearing trails, painting buildings and more.

Employees are paid $8.50 an hour and each person will receive a scholarship worth $1210. Those that begin work early and work into the end of summer will receive a larger scholarship worth $1500. Applicants can be no younger than 16 years old when the program begins in May and must be 17 by August 20. The scholarships remain in effect for seven years and are accepted by any institution that accepts Title I.

“They also can be used for any reputable technical school,” Carter said about the scholarships.

Applications for employment are available at ecoservants.org. For more information, call 575-808-1204.

Students are paid $8.50 an hour and, by then end of summer, each person will receive a scholarship worth $1210.(Photo: Courtesy)